How To Get From Kasane To Maun In Botswana

 

With any planning of a trip to Africa or any trip, in general, comes plans of transportation. Below I am sharing tips on how to get from Kasane to Maun, the gateway to amazing Safari’s that Botswana has to offer.

In my last post, I shared tips on fun things to do in Maun. In this post its all about how to travel to Maun.

As we had an adventurous time in Livingstone, I will also share some details of how we traveled from Livingstone to Kasane. This is where of course you have the amazing Victoria Falls and Devil’s Pool.

 

 

Traveling From Livingstone Zambia To Kasane

From Livingstone town center there are several options. There are buses and there are taxis both private and shared. The drive from Livingstone to Kasane(Kazungula Ferry) is about 50 minutes.

I honestly cannot remember how much we paid for the shared tax, but it was cheap. The only thing to note is that with the shared taxis you have to wait until they will up.

People are friendly and also we were travelling with suitcases again felt pretty safe doing so with no worries. You can also opt to have your own taxi. Just negotiate the price with the taxi driver. 

 

You can also opt to have a rental car and cross from Livingstone to Kasane by ferry at Kazungula. The fee for each car is about $5-10 no matter the number of occupants. Just remember to have all your paperwork for the car in order as the border is only a short walk from the ferry.

 

 

Getting From Kasane To Maun By Bus

 

You can travel to Maun by bus, and there are daily combi/bus from Kasane to Maun. One is direct others stop at Nata from where you have to wait for connecting another bus. You won’t come across many animals across this route, which is a good thing. It’s about 8 hours drive, and traveling by bus is the cheapest (about $16).

 

Traveling by bus has its own flavor but there are certain aspects one should keep in mind while doing so. One of the major cons of traveling by bus is theft, which is fortunately not very common. In order to avoid theft, you can follow these safety rules:

1. Never get a luggage bag with too many pockets as you won’t be able to monitor every little pocket and it will be very easy for anyone to unzip any of the pockets and take out your belongings.
2. Do not carry a number of luggage bags; rather, carry one or two bags of large size to keep all your belongings together.
3. Always use handy small bags to carry your documents, your phone, and your wallet etc. Or invest in one of the anti-theft backpacks.
4. It is advisable to keep your phone inside your jack/coat pocket(upper pockets!)
5. Stay alert and take extra care of your passport and other such documents. 
6. Take your hand carry bag to anywhere you go when the bus stops, be it the toilet. Preferably, get a cross shoulder bag so you don’t get bothered a lot.

 

 

The LAWA big bus service is very useful; you just have to schedule things timely and enjoy your ride. It is a six to seven hour long journey, with the bus stopping for restroom and refreshments. The total distance is 600 kilometers, and the ticket price is 164 pula.

Fortunately, this bus is safe. The seats are very comfortable, depending on the category of bus you take. On top of it, Africans are great people to travel with, and they will accompany you all along the route with music, chattering and laughter.

 

The bus drivers are highly skilled, as the road is a bit bumpy, but they make sure you don’t feel a thing. Crossing the safaris is an African treat that can turn any journey into an adventure.

The drivers make sure you enjoy every single bit of it as well. The drivers cross the safaris so smoothly that you will not feel a thing. You can be traveling in one of the wildest parts of the world and be rest assured you are in capable hands.  Highly recommended.

 

 

 

Getting From Nata To Maun

You can also use an option 2 that is to stop at Nata, and then take another ride to Maun. The bus drops you off at Nata from Francis town where you have to wait for a bit to take a bus to Maun. The bus fare to Nata is 80 pula. Whereas the bus fare from Nata to Maun is 84 pula. The major issue with this route is that the buses do not go off frequently. So it can be time-consuming and frustrating when you have to wait for the next bus to come, and customers don’t give great reviews about this route just because they have to wait for hours at Nata to catch a bus to Maun, and the road from Francis town to Nata is not very good quality.

 

The total travelling time stretches to around eight to nine hours, which is a lot. So I would personally prefer taking a direct bus from Kasane to Maun. Or taking a rental car, which is the best option if you have the budget and some great company, or you love to travel alone!

 

 

Driving From Kasane to Maun / Self-Drive Safaris In Botswana

 

On the other hand, for any adventurous enthusiast, self-driving through the Chobe and Moremi wilderness from Kasane to Maun should be on your bucket list.  It takes careful preparation but allows you to go explore some of the best wildlife areas in Africa on your own, and it is nothing short of incredible.

 

Anyone attempting this should be a confident 4×4 driver.  In the wet season, the roads are muddy, and in the dry season, you will have to charge through long patches of deep sand.  Getting through some of these areas will take some skill, as well as some manpower if you get bogged down.

 

While you will not see a lot of people on the way, spend some time at the campsites at night asking others coming the opposite way about route conditions, as some tracks are much worse than others.  Also, ensure you understand how driving in sand, and in low gear will increase your fuel consumption.  It is an adventure you certainly want to be well prepare for. For the most part, road conditions from Kasane to Maun are good. I would recommend you taking a bus if you’re not the haven’t had much experience driving abroad but there is really nothing to worry about.

 

When doing self- drive safaris in Botswana or any other part of African always be cautious. Safari animals require extra consideration as the threat they cause is very real.  You never see Africans being cavalier with some of the most dangerous predators in the world.  Nor should you.  Make sure you know the precautions before you sit on that bus seat and take a ride to Maun.   Always be respectful of these amazing animals. 

 

1. Never mock at the animals.
2. Never feed the animals
3. Never play loud music or scream or shout while you’re passing by a safari or you see animals resting or eating.
4. Never call the animals by hand movement. Trust me, it’s not your kitty or your tamed pup.

 

Always carry food and water with you, in case you feel hungry on the way. Try to carry dry edibles so that the oil doesn’t bother you on the way.

 

 

Using Rental Cars In Kasane

 

There are car rentals at the Kasane airport, which you can rent, and have your own personalized experience. AVIS Car rental is the best available and offers a variety of facilities. From selecting the car of your choice to selecting your own travel timing and stops on the way, you can have a perfectly customized experience. These cars operate from the Kasane airport and are available at any time between 8 am to 1 pm, and 2 pm to 5 pm Monday to Friday and shorter days on the weekends. Use this phone number to schedule your ride (267) 6250144. Then select your drop off location, and you’re all set to travel to Maun.

 

Enjoy your trip to Maun, the city of animals and safaris. Once you come back, let everyone know how your journey was. Stay safe and treat the animals with respect!

 

Also See:

• Things To Do In Maun
• Sandboarding In Namibia
• Diving In The Red Sea In Egypt
• Walking On Victoria Falls

 

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